2014 Spring bear hunt

[skagitsteel]

Pretty excited to draw spring bear this year for the 1st time with only 2 points.  I wasn't expecting a whole lot early with the weather and early start date.  On the opener I had my older two kids out with me after work, we were mainly just exploring the unit.  We were driving along one of the main grades, came around the corner and there is a decent boar 40 yards away looking at us.  I quickly realized the stocky body wide shoulders and square head so I grabbed my gun.  Unfortunately he bailed before I could shoot.   I got my kids out of the truck and we doubled back on another grade to cut him off, but we didn’t get there quick enough, he was long gone.   I went back on foot after him a few days later but didn’t see any sign of him.  The weather was crappy but I was onto fresh bear sign in 3 different places the 1st week and a half. Ended up seeing two bears in April and one in the 1st week of May.

[skagitsteel]

a few more pics and a bear that definitely found a deer

[skagitsteel]

Work got a little crazy and had to take 1 week and a half with no hunting but was back it hard in mid may.  Had a quick trip before work to an area I had previously seen a bear and found a crazy amount of bigger bear sign.  About 30 piles in the last week in an area about the size of a small backyard.

[skagitsteel]

I came back later in the week with a friend around midday we came by ‘the spot’ to find three steaming piles.  We looked around for Him and could not find Him out on any of the grades. It was about 3:30 in the afternoon and about 85 degrees when we were leaving, I walked by the spot one last time just to see if he was there.  At about 60 yards I could see about 90% of the clearing and no bear, I walked around a tree and 12 yards away was the larger boar (same bear I had jumped on opening day)  laying down sprawled out munching on grass. He had no clue I was even there.  I pulled up settled my crosshairs right between his eyes and squeezed……………

will finish up the story tomorrow 

[RadSav]

Between the eyes

[X-Force]

 

[skagitsteel]

At that point I realized I HAD FORGOTTEN TO CHAMBER A ROUND.    I leaned behind a tree and slooowly worked the bolt, but wind shifted slightly and bear took off real fast. I was kicking myself pretty good but nonetheless was still fun to be 12 yards from an undisturbed bear. 

Came back next morning before work and no evidence that he had been back.  I hiked around and decided to climb up to a glassing point.  I spotted another bear about 700 yards away across a ravine eating grass right along the edge of the timber.  He looked like an average bear and I had to head for work so I didn't have enough time to get over to him, I watched him for a bit and then took off.

[skagitsteel]

Sunday 5/18 was my birthday and I told my wife previously that I wanted to hunt on my birthday. I got an early start and headed into an area I actually haven’t hunted before but would end up where I saw a bear previously.  At about 6 am I found a good spot where I good glass a few small clearings and grades.  I immediately spotted a chocolate bear (not one that I had previously seen) about 400 yards away. The wind was right so I planned my approach.  I stopped at about 260 to further investigate the bear. It was chocolate colored, squared snout and walked like a boar.  I knew it was no monster but a definite shooter for me.  The bear was still undisturbed and wind was right so I was planning to get even closer, when I got up I dropped my shooting sticks and the bear looked up, I froze but was skylined.  The bear was about one step from the timber and went back to eating grass, I decided to shoot from there……..
1st shot I put right through the shoulder and he buckled and rolled over, struggling but got up, I hit him again, down but thrashing so  I shoot again and watched it hit, To my amazement he is still thrashing in this bush.  He comes out the other side and I put one through the neck even after the neck shot still alive for about 15 seconds before he rolls down where I can’t see him.   He only made it about 30 ft from where I first shot but one crazy tough bear.  What I found was bullet placement was good, and the 180 grain accubonds did plenty of damage.  1st shot destroyed the shoulder and took out both lungs, never exiting, the next two hit the lung and gut, the neck shot missed the spine but severed his airway.  Of the six bear kills I've been on since 2012 this was far and away the toughest one to put down.  I was shooting 300 win mag, the bear measured 5’10” Sorry for the poor pic quality had to use the self-timer for solo pic. 

It was a fun hunt got to see six bears, bunch of elk and some blacktail.  I am glad I made the decision to hold out for the bear I tagged. 

[92xj]

Awesome story and hunt. Congrats!

[klikboom]

Wow you've seen a lot more bears in skagit than it feels like we did in Monroe. That's a really nice bear, way to keep on it until it was down. Sounds like he was a tough SOB. I love the coat. You must have a horseshoe stashed somewhere dark, you got a whole bunch of second chances!

[andersonjk4]

Great bear and great story!    Thanks for sharing. 

[skagitsteel]

Wow you've seen a lot more bears in skagit than it feels like we did in Monroe. That's a really nice bear, way to keep on it until it was down. Sounds like he was a tough SOB. I love the coat. You must have a horseshoe stashed somewhere dark, you got a whole bunch of second chances!

Wow you've seen a lot more bears in skagit than it feels like we did in Monroe. That's a really nice bear, way to keep on it until it was down. Sounds like he was a tough SOB. I love the coat. You must have a horseshoe stashed somewhere dark, you got a whole bunch of second chances!

I don't know that there are any more bears in skagit talke to the warden Friday and he said no bears down yet.  I have heard of a few from Monroe. I for sure had some second chances, but I felt part of my success was being close to home being able to hit the areas with sign on a regular basis

[sled]

  Heck Of A snout, And Beautiful Coat!

[RadSav]

Happy birthday.  Nice bear!

[Shane54]

Awesome! Congrats!